Song of the Mockingbird: My Journey with Josefina

I tell Tía Dolores that I’d like to go to Santa Fe, as long as Josefina does, too. Josefina squeals and grabs my hand, and I squeeze it back. Two girls, off to the big city!

I snuggle next to Josefina that night in her soft bed of sheepskins and wool blankets. Francisca’s and Clara’s quiet breathing fills the room, and cool desert air wafts in through the tiny window above my head. Far away, a coyote howls, still sounding like a child screaming, and a chill runs down my spine. But my eyelids grow heavy, and I soon drift off to sleep.

Josefina and I wake up with the sun. Josefina brings a jug of water from the stream, and after a quick breakfast of tortillas and goat cheese, we hurry to help Ana with the dishes. When Señor Montoya calls to us from outside, we wipe our hands, kiss Ana, and run through the big wooden doors at the front of the house. Señor Montoya stands beside a wagon with two mules hitched to the front. I almost laugh. Of course there’s no car waiting, but somehow I’d pictured a station wagon.

The morning is fresh with a cool breeze under a bright blue sky, and puffy white clouds sail overhead. The wagon’s bright yellow wood looks cheerful, and the mules seem eager to get moving. Señor Montoya addresses us as “ladies,” and Josefina giggles. He helps her into the wagon and settles her on a blanket-covered board. Then he comes to help me. This is already an adventure.

I boldly take Señor Montoya’s hand and haul myself up next to Josefina. Carmen hands us a bundle of food for lunch, and Señor Montoya swings up beside Tía Dolores. With a jolt, we’re off, waving goodbye to the entire family and servants who’ve gathered to see us go.